Southwest Airlines CEO vows no repeat of last year’s Christmas travel meltdown
Speaking to CNBC outside the New York Stock Exchange on Dec. 9, 2021, Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan promised that the carrier will not have a repeat of last year’s holiday travel disaster. The meltdown stranded thousands of customers and cost the airline more than $1 billion.
“It will never happen again,” Jordan said at an event Thursday at the Wings Club in New York.
Last year, Southwest canceled close to 17,000 flights over the crucial Christmas and New Year’s holiday period as it failed to recover from severe weather that gripped most of the country. Rival carriers were also affected but recovered more quickly.
Southwest struggled with staffing issues as storms left flight attendants and pilots out of position for their next flights, thousands of passenger bags piled up, and planes were behind on de-icing.
To ensure a smoother holiday travel season this year, the airline has been stocking up on de-icing and other winter-weather equipment throughout the year. It has also upgraded technology to improve efficiency and recovery times.
While Jordan acknowledged that “winter will not be perfect,” he emphasized that the airline is prepared for the season. He pointed to a quick recovery after heavy snowfall in October at its key airport in Denver as evidence of the airline’s readiness.
Southwest’s commitment to avoiding a repeat of last year’s holiday travel chaos comes as the airline industry prepares for a surge in holiday travel as the peak Christmas season approaches. With cautious optimism, travelers can hope for a smoother experience with Southwest Airlines this year.